College News
McNabb to Speak at Carver Monument Event
Sande McNabb, emeritus University Professor of plant pathology, will be the keynote speaker Saturday, July 14, at the Carver Day 2007 event at George Washington Carver National Monument near Diamond, Mo. McNabb is a member of the Carver Birthplace Association Board of Directors. McNabb's research and presentations on Carver have won recognition from a range of institutions, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which presented him with its Distinguished Citation Award for "outstanding dedication to ensuring that the legacy of George Washington Carver is memorialized in America." This will be the first major event to take place in the new 18,000-square-foot Carver Discovery Center. A commemorative program will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Lauren Christian Pork Chop Open Deadline July 10
The deadline for registering for the Lauren Christian Pork Chop Open is Tuesday, July 10. The cost is $75 per person, or $300 for a four-person team. Those who don't golf are welcome to register at $25 per person for the evening activities: social time, dinner, auction and awards. The event will be on July 17, with golf at Veenker Memorial Course and the evening events at the Farm Bureau Pavilion in Kildee Hall. Proceeds benefit the Lauren Christian Endowment at Iowa State.
Ron George, Agronomy Emeritus Professor, Dies
Agronomy emeritus professor Ron George, 67, died July 1 from injuries suffered in a fall. Services were held July 6 with burial in the Iowa State University Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the ISU Foundation for the Ron and Ethel George Scholarship in the agronomy department. Condolences may be sent to his wife, Ethel, and family at 212 Parkridge Circle Ames, IA 50014.
New Communications Specialist Starts Today
Melea Reicks Licht has joined the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Communications Service. Her primary responsibility will be writing for the College's new alumni publication. Licht is an alumna of the College who received her bachelor's degree in public service and administration in agriculture in 2000 and her master's degree in agricultural education and studies in 2005. Licht was formerly the communications specialist for the Department of Agronomy. She will be located at 304 Curtiss Hall and can be reached at 4-8892 or mreicks@iastate.edu.
ADM Executive to Deliver Biorenewables Lecture
Tom Binder, president for research at Archer Daniels Midland Co., will present a lecture Sept. 19 as part of the College's Distinguished Lecture Series for the Sesquicentennial Celebration. Binder earned ISU bachelor's and doctorate degrees in biochemistry and biophysics, in 1979 and 1985. The topic of his lecture will be biorenewables. It will begin at 8 p.m. in the Sun Room, Memorial Union. The lecture is sponsored by the food science and human nutrition department.
Guaranteed Moisture for Iowa State's Sensitive Corn Plots
About a half-dozen maize geneticists at Iowa State have one or more experiments underway in a 20-acre field on the Curtiss Farm south of campus. Because of a new irrigation system, those researchers are breathing easier in 2007.
Iowa State Awards $1 Million for Research Promoting Iowa
Iowa State researchers will use $1 million in state economic development dollars to research and develop new technologies that could create or boost Iowa businesses. Several College of Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty are involved in the newly funded projects.
Leopold Center Seeks Projects for 2007
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State wants to work with Iowans who have innovative ideas for sustainable agriculture alternatives. The 2007 Request for Pre-proposals has been issued for possible projects in the center's three initiative areas - ecology, marketing and food systems, and policy. Details: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2007/rfp_070507.htm
Deadlines & Reminders
July 10-11: Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture 20th Anniversary Celebration, more: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/newsreleases/2007/anniversary_052307.htm
July 13: Northern Research and Demonstration Farm field day, 9:30 a.m., Kanawha
July 19: Leopold Center seminar on local food distribution networks, 3 to 5 p.m., Curtiss Hall Auditorium (Room 127)
Communications Kiosk
Correct Web Address for College's Nameplates
The web address for the Iowa State nameplates with the new name of the College was incorrect in the last issue of Ag and Life Sciences Online. If you are interested in obtaining nameplates with department names, contact Ed Adcock, 4-2314 or edadcock@iastate.edu.
Infograzing
Reiman Gardens Features Sesquicentennial Displays
Reiman Gardens is celebrating Iowa State's Sesquicentennial with several displays this summer. Among the six exhibits are Home Grown in the Home Production Garden, which highlights fruits and vegetables developed at Iowa State. This vegetable garden is set among prairie plantings and bio-renewable grasses. There is a Bio-Fuels Walk throughout the Gardens featuring plants and grasses that might be used as fuel for the biorenewable industry. A special gift from the President's office developed the walking bio-fuels tour. More: http://www.reimangardens.iastate.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&nodeID=5704&newsID=1825&year=2007&month=7
Cast Offers Free Publications Cast
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, is making a number of its earlier publications available for the price of shipping and handling only. Recipients pay for actual shipping charges plus a $5 handling fee per order. Each publication will be distributed in full-box quantities only, and orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Lynette Allen, lallen@cast-science.org or 515-292-2125, ext. 22.
New USDA Center in Ames Dedicated
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and members of Iowa's Congressional delegation helped dedicate a new U.S. Department of Agriculture high-containment large animal facility in Ames July 3 that combines several research facilities into one location. The new building is the second component of a multi-phase, $460 million project. The center consolidates three units within the two USDA agencies: ARS' National Animal Disease Center, which conducts research concerning animal health and diseases with an agricultural impact; APHIS' National Veterinary Services Laboratories, which serves as a national and international reference laboratory and provides diagnostic services, reagents and training; and APHIS' Center for Veterinary Biologics, which regulates vaccines, bacterins, antisera, diagnostic kits and other biological products for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of animal diseases. (ARS News)
Marginalia
Viticulture Field Days Start July 28
Growing grapes will be the topic at four upcoming field days. They are set for the Horticulture Research Station July 28; the Armstrong Research Farm Aug. 2; the Southeast Research Farm Aug. 10; and the Northeast Research Farm Aug. 11. Grape cultivar research, weed and insect management are among the topics. A wine tasting of experimental cultivars concludes the field day at the Hort Station. Registration information: http://viticulture.hort.iastate.edu/events/events.html
Ag and Life Sciences Online
Editor: Ed Adcock, edadcock@iastate.edu
Phone: (515) 294-5616
Web site: http://www.ag.iastate.edu/aginfo/
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